A modder has transformed a six-bay NAS unit into a capable gaming machine by integrating a dedicated RTX 5060 GPU and achieving a claimed 3DMark world record. The mod was created by TrashBench on YouTube and features the ZimaCube 2, a storage device designed for handling and transferring data efficiently. The system comes equipped with an Intel Core i5-1235U CPU and 16GB of DDR5 memory, but the internal Iris Xe Graphics was barely able to handle gaming workloads. Games like Hitman 3 delivered just 18fps, Cyberpunk 2077 struggled at 13fps, and Shadow of the Tomb Raider managed only 31fps in low settings at 1080p resolution. These numbers reflect the original design intent of a NAS, not a gaming rig.
The Modding Challenge
To improve performance, TrashBench set out to add a powerful GPU to the system. While the ZimaCube 2 offers a PCIe 4.0 x4 slot, its chassis is too small to accommodate a full-length graphics card. The modder decided to mount a standard RTX 5060 externally, using a PCIe riser cable to connect it to the motherboard. But the RTX 5060 requires at least 145W of power and an 8-pin power connector, both of which the NAS lacked. To solve this problem, TrashBench removed the 3.5-inch drive bays and used the freed-up space to install a 750W SFX power supply. This workaround allowed the GPU to operate but added another layer of complexity to the build.
After installing the GPU, the results were dramatic. Frame rates jumped significantly: 167fps in Hitman 3, 90fps in Cyberpunk 2077, and 124fps in Shadow of the Tomb Raider. These improvements represent an 8x increase for Hitman 3, a 7x jump for Cyberpunk 2077, and a 4x gain for Shadow of the Tomb Raider compared to the integrated GPU. However, moving to a more powerful RTX 4080 Super did not lead to further performance gains. It’s likely that the CPU, an i5-1235U with just 2 performance cores and 8 efficiency cores, became a bottleneck for the much stronger GPU. Data monitoring showed that in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, the RTX 5060 was only utilizing about 60% of its potential.
Benchmark and Cooling Tests
Despite the underutilization, this setup managed to secure the top spot in the 3DMark Night Raid benchmark for systems in the i5-1235U category. Curious about cooling, TrashBench also tested an unusual method—using iced water to lower CPU temperatures. However, the results were disappointing. In some cases, performance in Hitman 3 dropped by as much as 10%, hinting that the CPU wasn’t the real bottleneck. These findings suggest that while NAS systems can be adapted for gaming with the right hardware, they’re not inherently built for this purpose.
Cost and Conclusion
The project proved that NAS hardware could be reworked for gaming with the correct modifications. The ZimaCube 2 itself costs $1,299, and additional components like the GPU and power supply pushed the total cost much higher, making this a costly experiment. Another hurdle was the NAS’s BIOS, which wasn’t designed to support dedicated graphics cards. As a result, TrashBench had to route the display output through the integrated GPU’s HDMI port. While the build involved numerous technical challenges, it served as a compelling proof of concept, showcasing the ingenuity of the modding community and the adaptability of computing hardware.
